BMCC Community,
We are a few weeks into the Spring 2021 semester, and I continue to be grateful for our college community’s ability to unite with persevere, offering classes and services virtually during these stages of the pandemic.
I want to take this opportunity to provide everyone with the following updates:
Commencement 2021
Commencement is the highlight of the year for the faculty, staff, families and friends who support our students as they realize their full potential and meet their academic goals; however, I wanted to let you know that in the interest of public health and well-being, Commencement ceremonies for those graduating this spring are going to be conducted virtually.
We researched a range of scenarios and repeatedly ran into the obstacle that we simply cannot gather enough people safely to hold an in-person ceremony. With the slow rollout of vaccines, emergence of the new COVID variants, and the persistence of higher rates of COVID transmission than we were seeing just a few months ago, it is highly unlikely that restrictions on mass gatherings would be lifted in New York City to a level that an in-person Commencement would be feasible.
The virtual Commencement is scheduled to take place on Friday, June 4, 2021 at 11 a.m. The Office of Student Affairs will be reaching out to graduating students with details about how we will celebrate them and recognize their achievements in a way that is fitting of this significant milestone.
Planning for Fall 2021
Since the start of the pandemic, BMCC remains committed to creating the best possible experience for students, faculty and staff, strengthening our culture of care inside and outside the classroom, and creating the conditions under which all students can learn and all members of the BMCC community can thrive.
According to recent reports, the rate of infection is going down across the city, currently at 4.4%. As we plan for a more in-person Fall 2021, the College continues to monitor the developments of the pandemic with guidance provided by the CDC, state and city elected officials and the City University of New York. In addition, our protocols and procedures will be updated as the College launches the physical campus re-opening in stages in order to be mindful of large public gatherings that could still pose a threat to our efforts to eradicate the virus and keep our community safe and healthy.
The College’s Campus Re-Opening Committee will continue to meet, discuss and identify the best approaches for us to move forward as we reprogram our institution to accommodate virtual and in-person needs for everyone.
Please continue to visit the Reimagining BMCC website to learn about updates and developments regarding the circumstances around the pandemic, protocols and daily operations.
Again, I applaud everyone’s collective efforts in keeping our college community safe and fully operational during the past several months. Together we will continue to march forward into what I hope will be a brighter future.
Sincerely,
Anthony E. Munroe
President, Borough of Manhattan Community College
